Bumper



G. W. VEALE Dec. 24, 1929.

BUMPER Filed March '30, 1929 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNlTED STATS Fiihtvi FFlCE GEORGE W. VEALE, OF CLEVELAND HEGHTS, 011110, ASSIGNOR TO THE EATON AXLE & SPRING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, 0R10, .A CORPORATION 0F OHO BUMPER Application filed March 30, 1929. Serial No. 351,385.

This invention relates to bumpers for auto mobiles, and has reference particularly to bumpers in which the impact bars are provided with longitudinal grooves for the reception of decorative wires. This case is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 214,535, filed August 2Q, 1927.

One object of the invention is the provision of a clamp for holding such wires in place in their grooves, and at t-he same time for c amping the bar to hold it against movement in its own plane, that is upward, downward or sidewise, the latter result being accomplished exclusively through the wire engaging portions of the clamp plate.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as 1 proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, l have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and elevational views, respectively, of a bumper embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, the section being taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the forward clamping plate; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified form of the invention.

For purposes of illust-ration, 1 have shown the invention as applied to a full bumper having impact bars 10 and 11 spaced apart evenly throughout their length and provided with rebent ends 12. These ends are attached to plates 13 of generally triangular shape. A rear bar 14 is also riveted at its ends to the plates 13, whereby a closed loop is formed with a single bar in the rear and two spaced impact bars on the front or outer side. This particular arrangement of bars may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Each of the bars 10 and 11 is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves 15 extending throughout the length of the bar. The bar itself will ordinarily be painted, enameled or otherwise cheaply finished in a dark color, or in a color to harmonize with the colors of he automobile upon which the bumper is to be used.

New, in order to provide an attractive appearance, 1 mount yithin the grooves 15 ornamental wires of greater cross-sectional area than the are-.1. of the grooves 15. By way of example, these wires may be round, as shown at 16 in Fig. 3, or half round, as shown at 16 in Fig. 5. These ornamental wires are preferably of a color to contrast with the color of the bars 10 and 11, a nickel-plated wire being satisfactory for the purpose as a rule. The Wires preferably extend around the rebent ends 12 of the impact bars and are clamped in place by the plates 13.

.at one or more points between the ends of the impact bars 1 provide clamps to assist in retaining the wires 16 in place, three such clamps being the number preferably employed. These clamps have, in addition to their wire securing function, the other usual functions of clamps joining the impact bars of double bar bumpers. rlhe central clamp comprises an outer plate 18 and an inner plate 19, which plates overlie the opposite surfaces of both impact bars 10 and 11, and have aligning` openings through which extends a clamping bolt 2t) that also passes through a hole in the bar 14:, a nut 21 on the rear of the bolt bearing, through lock washer 22, on the back of the bar 111 and serving to draw the parts up into clamping relation.

The clamping plate 18 is formed on its rear surface with grooves 23 of a cross-section conforming substantially to the cross-section of those portions of the wires 16 which project from the surfaces of the bars 10 and 11. In the presentinstance, therefore, they are semicircular. 1When the nuts 21 are drawn up tightly, the wires 16 are held securely in the grooves 15 of the bars 10 and 11, and at the same time, the plate 18 is held from turning or other movement by its engagement with the wires, and the bars 10 and 11 are held against any possible relative movement toward or away from each other.

lVhen clamps other than the center clamps are employed, they may be identical with the center clamp except when, as shown in Figs. l and 2, they do not engage the rear bar of the bumper, and in such cases, the bolts 24 are shorter than the bolt 20, and their nuts engage the clamping plates 19 directly instead of through the intermediacy of the bar ll.

in the modification of Fig. 5, the impact bars l0 and 1l are provided with parallel grooves l5 that are flat bottomed instead of curved, and the decorative Wires i6 are of half round section, and flat sides resting in the grooves l5 and their round forward sides extending into the semi-circular grooves 23 of the clamping plate 18. in other respects the construction of this ligure conforms precisely to that of Fig. 3. Obviously. Wires of still other cross-sectional form could be employed in connection with the invention in its broader aspects, so long as the vvi-res are of a shape and size to extend into opposite grooves in the clamp plate as Well as in the impact bar. However, the circular section of Wire and semi-circular section of groove are pre ferred as the simplest and most economical.

Throughout the foregoing specification and in the appended claims, l have employed the term Wire except Where specifically limited, in its generally understoodV commercial sense, that is as applying to a material furnished in coils regardless of its crossesectional form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a bumper, a bar provided With a longitudinal groove in one surface thereof, a decorative Wire mounted in and filling said groove, said vvire being of a cross-section larger than that of the groove, a clamp plate overlying the grooved surface of the bar, said plate having a groove therein adapted to receive that portion of the Wire which projects beyond the surface of the bar and hold it in said bar groove, and means exterior to said bar for holding said clamp plate in operative position.

2. ln a bumper. a pair of impact bars spaced apart vertically, each of said bars having a longitudinal groove in the impact surface thereof, a decorative Wire mounted in each said groove and filling the same, said Wires being of a cross-section larger than that of the grooves, clamping means for holding said Wires in said grooves, said means comprising a plate overlying the impact surfaces of the two bars, said plate having grooves therein formed to engage those portions of the said Wires which protrude from the said bars, and means exterior to said bars for holding said plate in operative position.

3. In a bumper, a bar provided in one surface thereof with a longitudinal groove of semi-circular cross-section, a decorative Wire of circular cross-section mounted in and lilling said groove, a clamp plate overlying the grooved surface of the bar, said plate having a semi-circular groove therein adapted to receive the protruding portion of said Wire, and means for holding said clamp plate in operative position.

4l. ln a bumper, a pair of impact bars spaced apart vertically, each of said bars having in the impact surface thereof a longitudinal groove of approximately semi-circular cross-section, a decorative Wire of circular cross-section mounted in each of said grooves and filling the same, and clamping means for holding said Wires in said grooves as Well as for positioning said impact bars With respect to each other, said means comprising a plate overlying the impact surfaces of the tWo bars and having semi-circular grooves therein formed to engage the protruding portions of said Wires, and means for holding said clamping plate in operative position.

ln testimony whereof, hereunto affix my signature.

GEURGE l/V. VEALE. 

